What do We Believe?

With the universal Christian Church, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God: the Father, creator of all that exists; Jesus Christ, the Son, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all human beings and to rise to life again in the ultimate victory over death and Satan; and the Holy Spirit, who creates faith through God’s Word and Sacraments. The three persons of the Trinity are coequal and coeternal, one God.

Being “Lutheran,” our congregations accept and teach Bible‐based teachings of the Lutheran Confessions which are laid out in the Book of Concord. These documents, which were written in the 16th century, are a summary of the teaching of God’s Word in Holy Scripture. The message of Martin Luther, from whom we get our name, and the other reformers can be summarized in this short motto: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone.

Grace alone

God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel against Him and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly.

Faith alone

By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them. Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life that it offers. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him.

Scripture alone

The Bible is God’s inerrant and infallible Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine.

Who We Are

Eric Tritten

Senior Pastor

Pastor Tritten sees himself as a regular guy who has experienced God’s love through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. “I am a work in progress, and I daily need God’s power and forgiveness to live the life He calls all of us to live through faith in Jesus.”

Email Pr. Eric   |   Visit Pr. Eric’s Blog

Bob Brantsch

Director of Christian Education

Bob has been the DCE at Gloria Dei for 21 years and has also served congregations in Colorado and New York. His ministry oversees Adult Education, Small Groups, Confirmation, First Communion, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Child Protection and the Prayer Path.

Email Bob

Laura Boicey

Youth Director

Laura has been a member at Gloria Dei since 2007, and the Co-Youth Director since 2021. She enjoys working with children of all ages. Laura is very passionate about the youth at Gloria Dei and is honored to walk alongside them on their faith journey.

Email Laura

Megan Polak

Preschool Director

Megan has been the Director of Gloria Dei Preschool since 2016. She feels blessed to be part of an amazing team, and she loves the students! She feels it is truly a joy to witness students’ growth!

Email Megan

Esther Wiliamson

Deaconess

Esther Williamson, member of Gloria Dei for nearly 50 years, served as church secretary for 22 of those years. Consecrated as a Lutheran Deaconess in 1994 she is active in the Lutheran Deaconess Conference from Valparaiso, Indiana.

Email Esther

Becka Koudelka

Office Administrator

Becka Koudelka has been a member of Gloria Dei since 2004. Becka has an Associate’s Degree in Computer Programming and worked in the computer field until becoming a stay at home Mom in 1990. She joined the church staff in 2005.

Email Becka

Sue Anderson

Music Director

Sue loves joining with other musicians to create joyful sounds and worship that honors Christ and blesses His people. She grew up Lutheran, served in various churches in the area, and is glad to have returned home to the Lutheran church. Her ministry at Gloria Dei includes Adult Choir, Praise Team, Men’s and Women’s Choruses, piano, organ and other music making.

Email Sue

Gathering people to Christ, building believers in Christ, serving the world as Christ. This is our mission, our vision and who we are. All in the name of Christ we seek to reach out as His hands, mouth and feet with love and compassion. We value sharing His grace, mercy, love and forgiveness with one another as a family. We seek to be simple again…gathered in the name of Jesus, serving the world in His name in freedom as children of God!

We value:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. —Acts 1:8

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. —Acts 2:42‐47

We do good works in response to God’s free gift of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus—not as a way to receive salvation, but to glorify God:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” —Ephesians 2:8­-10

Gather

Build

Serve

Our History

In late 1965, the mission‐minded people of Summit County planted the idea of a new Lutheran Church in Hudson. The American Lutheran, Lutheran Church in America and Missouri Synods agreed the new church should follow the Missouri Synod since it owned 14 acres of property on Ravenna Street in Hudson. By the summer of 1966, the Ohio District Mission Board established a new congregation in Hudson.

Read more about the History of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church

Gloria Dei Staff

  • Rev. Dr. Eric Tritten – Senior Pastor
  • Bob Brantsch – Director of Christian Education
  • Sue Anderson – Director of Music Ministry
  • Megan Polak – Preschool Director
  • Esther Williamson – Deaconess
  • Becka Koudelka – Office Administrator


How to Become a Member

If you are Lutheran:

  • If you are a member of another Lutheran church, you may have your membership transferred.
  • If you are Lutheran and do not have a church home, we can receive you by Affirmation of faith.

If you are from another Christian background or have never been involved in a Christian Church:

  • You can attend one of our “New Member” classes to learn more about the Lutheran faith.
  • If you haven’t been baptized, you will be received into membership by Baptism and Adult Confirmation.
  • If you are baptized and formerly a member of a Christian Church, you will be received by Affirmation of faith.

Connect With Us

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church has an active Facebook page where we post information about upcoming events. We also post services and Bible studies to YouTube. Join us by using the links below!